5 Rooftop Restaurants In India Promise A Perfect Golden Hour This Valentine’s Day

In the groundbreaking series, Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw reflects on modern love and says, ‘The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love you that you love, well, that’s just fabulous.” That said modern couples, considering their hectic city life, ensure every special occasion stirs up stellar experiences. Special as Valentine’s Day is marked with great pomp and show around the globe and celebrating togetherness over crafted cocktails, good food, a stunning venue, and inadvertently caught up with the golden hour rekindle many romances. To replicate such moments for you and your partner this Valentine’s Day, DP has put together a list of some of the best rooftop restaurants in India imbued with stunning views, a cosy setting, and specially curated romantic dinner meals by chefs that tantalize your senses and create moments you desired evermore.

Also read: Michelin-Star Restaurants Of 2023 In Dubai Offer An Unforgettable Culinary Experience

#1 Find Yourself A Relaxed Sundowner at Four Seasons AER, Mumbai

In the glamorous heart of the city, the newly renovated and chic Four Seasons rooftop bar boasts more than just spectacular views of the skyline and the Arabian Sea. AER designed by Phillip Pond, founder of Atelier Pond, reimagines the interiors of a yacht and the nautical theme runs central to the design. Art déco permeates every aspect of the décor elements starting from the aerodynamic curvaceous seating, fluted bar counter, lattice walls, and black & white stripped floors. 

Once you retract your eye off its design and sweeping vistas, the cocktails curated by Corsica-born mixologist Alexandre Renoue will pep you up. It features nautically inspired libations. The spinnaker is a huge hit among the patrons, a tropical elixir infused with aged rum, absinthe, passion fruit, and blackberry. Cloud 9 is a tropical twist on gin with a white peach infusion and a creamy coconut undertone. There is a huge collection of hand-picked wines, craft beers and a repository of rare spirits tucked away for special occasions. 

The culinary flavours take on an array of delicacies that are inspired by the global cuisines. The golden hour complements the ambience which makes AER a perfect spot to escape the hustle of the megacity and enjoy a stylish sundowner with that special someone on Valentine’s Day.

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The retractable roof from Libart which replicates the technology used at Wimbledon. This design element makes AER an all-season rooftop restaurant that promises to offer stunning views of sunsets and rain while taking in Mumbai’s stunning skyline.

Also read: A Guide To Mumbai’s Latest Bar Scene: 3 Must-Visit Spots

#2 A Royal Rendezvous With The Special Someone At Sheesh Mahal, Leela Palace in Udaipur

Udaipur has a romantic setting unmatched in the whole of India having high-end hotels snuggling beside tranquil Lake Pichola, with the ridges of the Aravalli Range stretching away in every direction. Perched on the banks of the serene lake, Sheesh Mahal, a two-level, open-air fine-dining Indian restaurant overlooking the lake exemplifies the grandeur of the Leela Palace Hotel. Blending Indian and Mughal architecture, this palatial retreat promises a royal experience throughout the stay extending to its dining as well. Alongside palatial surroundings, Sheesh Mahal effortlessly blends rich flavours and experiences by bringing to the table recipes mastered in royal kitchens, with a contemporary twist for modern diners. Come dusk, the evening glow of candles in various hues and add a traditional live Rajasthani performance which conjures a resplendent touch of a bygone era. Sip on signature cocktails like By the Lake which is a gorgeous red drink stirred with rouge, gin, raspberry puree and egg white and taste some of the mouth-watering Rajasthani flavours under the starry star-lit sky of Udaipur. An extensive collection of wines from every corner of the globe presents the perfect accompaniment to your dinner.

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The intimate alfresco dining setting of Sheesh Mahal, Leela Palace Udaipur offers an unparalleled setting for romantics seeking not just a meal but an immersive experience.

Also read: An Arresting Eatery In Udaipur, Which Is A Rajasthani Design Lover’s Dream Come True

#3 The Terrace Dining At Glenburn Penthouse Kolkata is an Ode To the City of Joy 

Calcutta now Kolkata still lives in its erstwhile aristocracy where vintage is never out of style. Glenburn Penthouse, the vintage-style property features nine stunning suites adorned with elegant colonial-era design and decor elements. What makes it to Instagram’s favourite feeds is the captivating dining hall and the tea terrace that frames incomparable views of the gorgeous Victoria Memorial. Its gala dinners and its best high-teas led by the talented Chef Shaun Kenworthy make Glenburn Penthouse’s dining hall worth the visit. The dining hall has all the design elements of a rajbari life including vintage furniture, pastel-hued ‘Hindoostan‘ wallpaper depicting a romanticized version of both regal and rural life of India and the marble-floored Tea Verandah with white wicker furniture. 

The cuisine is the chef’s creative take on colonial, Anglo-Indian and Bengali favourites and flavours inspired by the streets of Bengal made upscale. Chef Shaun, Scottish by roots while carrying Bengal at heart filled us in that this Valentine’s Day his curated gala dinner is the best example of an intimate gathering by the infinity pool terrace with gorgeous views of the city. The special menu is a six-course gourmet paired with Chandon sparkling wine.

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The V-day menu of amuse-gueule, a single, bite-sized hors d’œuvre filled with avacado and truffle mousse. An entrée of smoked salmon and crispy soft shell crab paired with soy and ginger dressing. 

Also read: New In Kolkata: Your Design Guide To The City’s Latest Restaurants

#4 Fusing Futuristic Design Aesthetic Ritz Carlton Aasmana Pune Rooftop Extends The Elegance of Fine Dining 

On the busy street in the heart of the Yerawada business district, the Ritz Carlton Pune is cocooned by business houses and rimmed by the city’s premier golf course. Undoubtedly a leisure hotel but set on the 18th floor, the rooftop restaurant & bar Aasmana offers a breathtaking view of the city skyline and golf course and to sip and savour under the starlit ambience and beating music. It serves modern Indian cuisine that can be enjoyed with some bubbly and calming views of the surrounding golfing green. Spearheading the culinary operation, Chef Mayur Tiwari dishes out modern interpretations of Indian cuisine. The Valentine’s Day celebratory dinner of modern Indian fare comes paired with innovative cocktails at the rooftop lounge and bar. He aims to create an experience that holds a memory, a notion that holds true to the brand essence of Ritz Carlton. 

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The creative mixology, stunning sunsets, and spectacular Golf Course views that allow couples more time in the outdoor lounge and bar.

Also read: New In Delhi: Restaurants Inspired By Japanese Izakaya Bars, Tuscan Dining And More

#5 Step Atop Cirrus 9 Oberoi Delhi To Soak In The Aura Of The Capital City 

The rooftop bar Cirrus 9 at The Oberoi, New Delhi, never fails to entice the well-heeled patrons with its panoramic views of the city.  To the right is Humayun’s tomb, its bulbous white dome glowing under the changing hues of the setting sun and across is the vast green expanse of the Delhi Golf Club, with the lights of Rashtrapati Bhavan shining in the distance. This is Lutyens’ Delhi in one panorama shot. The rooftop bar, Cirrus9, offers specially curated beverages perfect for sundowners. Tropical and oriental flavours here inspire the cocktail portfolio. Emperor Yao’s, a pandan-infused gin, infused with pomegranate, lime, and Chinese five-spice syrup presented in a teapot surrounded by aromatic fog), and Five Spice Daiquiri whipped with Carta Blanca rum, Chinese five-spice syrup, and a touch of Campari blended with passion fruit and lime are huge hits among the regulars. Cirrus 9 has a special menu of caviar plates. The crispy freshness of champagne combined with the saltiness of caviar is a feeling of luxury that never disappoints couples.

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The 59-cover outdoor area that meets with a 45-seat indoor space which is tastefully done Oberoi style.